Museums & Exhibitions

Insights into the history, lifestyle and creative activity are provided by lively museums and exhibitions.

Angelika Kauffmann Museum in Schwarzenberg

1 May - 25 October 2015Angelika Kauffmann. Rome residence

When Angelika Kauffmann returned to Rome in 1782, she resided at Via Sistina 72, Trinità dei Monti. It is in this palazzo that the painter Anton Raphael Mengs had resided until his death in 1779. Her salon became a cosmopolitan meeting place for artists, aristocrats and intellectuals. Two self-portraits of Angelika Kauffmann's cousin Johann Kauffmann provide an insight into his impact on her work. The sculptor Johann Peter Kauffmann, a distant relative of the artist, is also acknowledged in the exhibition on the occasion of his 150th birthday. Important historical paintings and exemplary portraits from Kaufmann's creative Roman period round off the show.

Opening times1 May until 25 October 2015Tue to Sun: 10 to 5 p.m.Guided tours for the publicTue 4 p.m., Sun and bank holidays, 10.30 a.m.

Special exhibition 2015: "hüslo, bopplo, spielo". Children's toys, then and nowA selection of toys played with by children from the Bregenzerwald between the turn of the century and the 1960s is presented in the old wing of the museum. These old toys are compared with the favourite toys and themes of the children at Schwarzenberg primary school. Maybe a field of tension arises for the visitors, and memories of their own childhood are revived.

Opening times22 March until 29 April 2015Wed to Sat: 2 to 5 p.m., Sun 1 to 5 p.m.

The Women’s Museum in Hittisau

Hittisau Women's Museum is the first and only museum dedicated to women in Austria. Its mission is to visualise and document the creative works of women and women's (hi)stories.Hittisau Women's Museum presents changing exhibitions which examine topics from the fields of history, art, architecture, social history, ethnology, craftsmanship, etc. from a female point of view. Attention is paid to switching between or combining regional and international points of view.To accompany the exhibitions, the Women's Museum offers an extensive supporting programme of individually organised special guided tours, talks, workshops, concerts, readings and film showings.

14 June 2015 until 26 October 2016"I, on the summit!" A history of women in the AlpsAlpinism was essentially a man's pursuit for a long time. However, there have always been mountain-climbing women. They were frequently seen as wild women of the mountains and even grubby witches. If at all, a lady was to enter into practically impassable territory by means of a sedan chair - carried on men's shoulders. The exhibition in the Women's Museum in Hittisau is a historico-cultural approach to the history of women in the Alps. The great female alpinists from the 19thand 20th centuries are presented. The exhibition presents female life stories and outlines of their lives, traces prejudices and animosities, demonstrates the self-empowerment of female alpinists, and examines differences regarding the motives of mountain-climbing women. At the same time, attention is drawen to those women who always lived and worked in the mountains: alpine farmers, alpine dairywomen, shepherdesses, porters, pachers, smugglers, hut landladies and mountain guides have their say.

Alberschwende local history museum

Bregenzerwald style of home furnishings: “From flax to linen”

opening timesupon request

InformationAlberschwende TourismusT +43 (0)5579 4233

Bezau local history museum

A typical residential building, maintained in its original style. It holds national costumes, offers insight into the style of home furnishing in days gone by, and displays a valuable collection of sacral art.

opening times with guided toursOctober to June 2015: Tue 2 p.m. July to September 2015: Tue, Thur and Fri 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Images of 19th century life in Hittisau

Portrayal of the life and work of five personalities from Hittisau at around 1800. Collection of photos from day-to-day life in Hittisau (family trees, old photos, wedding photos, memorial photos, genealogical registers and histories of houses).

opening timesupon request

InformationHittisau TourismusT +43 (0)5513 6209-50

Egg Museum

Oldest museum in the valley area (founded in 1904). Permanent exhibition (traditional costumes, customs and home furnishings). Special exhibitions with a regional theme.

Franz Michael Felder Museum in Schoppernau

Franz Michael Felder was a farmer, writer and social reformer and is one of the most historically significant personalities from the Bregenzerwald. The exhibition is an exploration of his life and works.

Felber's Crooked House in Sibratsgfäll

In 1999, 70 million cubic metres of rock swept down into the valley, destroying forest, field and alpine areas in its wake, in addition to 17 buildings. Since then, Felber's house has been crooked, and can be visited as part of guided tours.